Many studies have shown the negative aspects of commuting and I’ve posted on the subject before here, here and here.

As a counterpoint, other studies have shown we may not like commutes that are too short either:

Anonymity in traffic acts as a powerful drug, with several curious side effects. On the one hand, because we feel that no one is watching, or that no one we know will see us, the inside of the car itself becomes a useful place for self-expression. This may explain why surveys have shown that most people, given the choice, desire a minimum commute of at least twenty minutes. Drives desire this solitary “me time” — to sing, to feel like a teenager again, to be temporarily free from the constricted roles of work and home.